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worries

All writers have worries, I’m sure, but in the run up to a new book being released, the worries seem more tangible. I often find myself waking up from nightmares, or on the converse side of that my insomnia kicks in even harder. My mind becomes filled with multiple scenarios – most of them pessimistic. My To Do list gets longer. Today’s Friday Fives is about the five things I’m currently worrying about as I prepare to see #Last Request set free into the world. I’m hoping some of you will comment below to let me know what your pre-publication day worries are so I know I’m not alone in this.

Worry One

I bet this is one I share with most authors; the worry that everyone will hate your book (despite some people already telling me they like it). Logic doesn’t seem to come into it. No matter how much I tell myself that people I respect have enjoyed it, the words won’t sink in till I see the reviews. Which brings me on to …

Worry Two

What if the reviews are crap? What if it’s written down for all the world to see that people don’t like my book? Now I don’t expect everyone to like it – thankfully we don’t all have the same taste and that’s fine. But, the thought that the first review to hit Amazon will be a one or two star one is terrifying.

Worry Three

That because I’ve had such disturbed sleep, I will sleep right through publication day and not be able to thank everyone for their well wishes – unlikely? – yeah I know – but, tell me that on the other side of publication day.

Worry Four

That the Internet collapses on publication day and I have no idea what’s happening with my book and that it hasn’t uploaded. What if all the people who pre-ordered it are waiting in vain for it to hit their ebook reader? How would I regain their trust? How will I cope with not knowing the fate of my baby?

Worry Five

That, now my baby’s out there in the wilderness, fending for itself, I may not be able to nurture another one. What if my creative juices have dried up? What if the ideas I had buzzing around in my brain all go up in a puff of smoke?

Please share your pre-publication day worries below. I’d love to hear that it’s not just me who gets in a dither!

Comments(6)

    • Tony Forder

    • 4 years ago

    Can fully empathise. The wait for that first unbiased review to come in is interminable. Usually by then I’m well into another piece of work, but right up until the end of it I will be wondering if this is the time I won’t be able to pull it off, if this is the one that will stink.

      • lizmistry

      • 4 years ago

      Thanks for commenting, Tony. I reckon most of us feel that way. It’s terrifying. Why do we put ourselves through it x

    • Liz Hinds

    • 4 years ago

    Oh my word! There are worries there i hadn’t even thought about. Now my list will be longer!

    I’m sure it will turn out that all your worries will be disproved, that your book will have great reviews, and that ideas for the next will flood in.
    On the other hand I wouldn’t mind sleeping for a day or so.

      • lizmistry

      • 4 years ago

      Thanks Liz, much appreciated. Sorry I made your list longer. xx

    • Jane

    • 4 years ago

    Yes, pretty much all that, Liz! I hear you. I’ve got my launch on the 24th October and I am thinking and feeling most of this, as I imagine you may be too. Why do we do this to ourselves? Well, because we couldn’t not. We write. That’s what we do!
    Very excited to get to know Nikki Parekh Best wishes for the launch.
    Jane xx

      • lizmistry

      • 4 years ago

      Thanks, Jane, Good luck with yur lauch too. Gaia is flying! xx

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